Sri Rajan

Got a tough product management question? I’m here to help. In the Dear Melissa segment of the Product Thinking podcast, I tackle your biggest challenges—whether it’s figuring out prioritization, aligning your team’s strategy, or navigating the complexities of scaling. If there’s something you’re stuck on, submit your questions at DearMelissa.com and I’ll share practical advice to help you move forward. Need a faster answer? Leave me a voicemail—I’ll make sure it gets top priority. #dearmelissa #askmelissa #productmanagement #productleaders #productstrategy

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The north star metric isn't just a compass guiding us; it's a window into the soul of our product, reflecting the core value we deliver and the profound impact we aspire to have on our users. #NorthStarMetric #ProductManagement #ProductValue #Impact #UserFocus #StrategicDirection #ProductVision #ProductStrategy #MetricsThatMatter #CustomerCentric #ProductGrowth

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As a seasoned design leader at this stage in my career, I’d like to share a reflection of one of my greatest challenges—and privileges—navigating the delicate balance between leveraging well-established design patterns and crafting new, innovative product experiences. Why the balance matters: Tried-and-true design patterns are powerful because they provide familiarity and usability for users while reducing cognitive load. They’re a testament to the collective wisdom of our industry, refined over time through countless iterations and user feedback. However, relying solely on established patterns can sometimes limit creativity and lead to stagnation in product innovation. This is the dark side of established design systems. On the other hand, designing new flows and experiences allows us to break boundaries and chart new paths. This is where creativity shines, where we sharpen our skills and apply design principles in novel ways to solve evolving user needs. Yet, this comes with its own challenges—higher risk, potential user friction, and the need for extensive validation and iteration. As a design leader, the key is balance: 1. Master the fundamentals – Deep knowledge of design principles and established patterns is critical. These are the foundation upon which we innovate. 2. Push new horizons with intention – When we step into uncharted territory, it’s essential to root our explorations in a strong understanding of user goals, behaviors, and context. 3. Foster collaboration and experimentation – Building something truly innovative often requires stepping outside our comfort zone and collaborating across disciplines. 4. Measure and adapt – Whether we’re refining a pattern or creating a new one, data and user feedback are our guideposts to ensuring success. For me, the joy of designing the Akaio platforms lies in mastering this balance: ensuring products are intuitive and accessible while also delivering delightful, groundbreaking experiences. It’s a constant interplay of discipline and curiosity, structure and exploration. #designleader #innovation #exploration #flow #creativity #leaderrship #balance Check out a live use case of my latest product build here:

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Traditional requirements gathering is dead. To truly understand customers in our fast-paced world, many product teams have adopted design thinking. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 fosters innovation by focusing on understanding user needs, encouraging creative problem-solving, and rapidly prototyping solutions that are both user-centric and practical. 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀 is a design thinking technique popular for Product Discovery initiatives. It helps product developers to develop empathy for customers and understand their problems on a deeper level. #UserPersonas #DesignThinking #ProductDisocvery #ModernProductivity  --------- My name is Steven Granese, and I post daily on Modern Productivity topics like Agile, OKRs, and Product Discovery. 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀? Add a comment to this post!

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“If there is no clear owner, then it’s the PM that owns it.” I sat down with Esteban Contreras from #ProductState to discuss Product leadership, or Prioritization process at Productboard. We also dug into the concept of Extreme Ownership, which is a principle I firmly believe in. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVN47mWn #productmanagement #productexcellence #ownership

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Do you subscribe to the Balanced Boss newsletter? It's worth checking out, and not only for the possibility of finding nuggets of wisdom from me, as you will in the new issue 😉 Each issue has great, actionable tips for maintaining your health and staying grounded while running your empire. Read on to find out what long-distance cycling taught me about being a leader!

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Everyone has implicit biases. When conducting UX research, it’s important to understand the biases that may affect that research. One tool that can help you identify and explore your own implicit biases is the Implicit Association Test (IAT), created by researchers at Harvard University. In this test you will explore one way of thinking about biases that can help you be more inclusive. https://lnkd.in/g-HrFir2

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CPOs are Chief Editors 🖋️ 📝 Simplifying PRDs to focus on what truly matters 🎯 Prioritizing roadmap initiatives that deliver maximum value for both users and the business 🗣️ Refining product messaging to ensure it resonates with the right audience #ProductManagement

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Cool Vendors in User Experience Returns for 2024! Join myself, Jim Scheibmeir, Ph.D. and Brent Stewart as we proudly present vendors that Gartner identifies as innovative, unique, or particularly interesting. Featured Vendors Include: Automated Testing for Extended Reality (XR): Adopt automated testing solutions that integrate with popular real-time 3D engines to streamline testing processes and enhance test coverage. AI-Powered Design-to-Code Tool: Utilize AI-powered tools that convert Figma designs into clean, semantic code, reducing manual coding efforts and minimizing defects. Open-Source Design Platform: Explore open-source design platforms to increase flexibility, enable real-time collaboration, and enhance interactive prototyping capabilities, all while lowering license costs. Gartner clients can access the full research now. Link in the comments. #UX #UXDesign #XR #XRTesting #DesignToCode #DigitalDesignPlatform #AR

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Creative Resilience: 8 Strategies to Help You Thrive During Transitions

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🔥Hot Take for PMs: Please don't hand me a solution to a problem. Instead, focus on detailing the problem and help me understand the why. We will ideate and find a solution together. Next week, in our first episode of ⚫️Bounce, Claire and I continue to unpack the PD + PM working relationship. Buckle up. Subscribe today - links in comments 👇

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I just finished reading this post below by Aakash Gupta and Colin Lernell. I really appreciate the thoughtfulness regarding the market right now in looking for a job, as well as the actionable recommendations provided. In trying to discern the things that differentiate PMs in the marketplace, I found it a breath of fresh air. #JobSearch #ProductLeadership

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The title may appear intimidating, but the core message is actually very encouraging and exciting. We are entering an era of creators, whether we refer to ourselves as designers, engineers, or product managers. By mastering the power of AI, we can unlock a new level of autonomy in our ideation and creativity.

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Iterative design, parallel design, and competitive testing are three methods that improve UX quality by exploring and testing multiple design ideas; using them together is more effective than relying on a single approach Great article by Therese B. Fessenden: https://lnkd.in/geCb8sQN

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Interesting look and definition of clarifying the term user needs. Particularly around example of what is and what is not an emotional reaction. Plus reminder that focus is on intent not solution in mind. We all see too much customer, user, #product #research biased on the latter.

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As leaders, sometimes the best way to show up for our teams is knowing when NOT to show up. That is, to know when to hit pause, prioritize our own well-being, and trust that everything will be ok in our brief absence. ⏸️ In my latest blog post, I talk about how when we push ourselves past our limits, not only are we doing ourselves a disservice, our ability to effectively lead, make sound decisions, and show up how we want for our teams is severely compromised. On top of that, our teams are losing out on valuable opportunities to step up and lead. It becomes a lot easier to prioritize your well-being when you realize that taking care of yourself actually IS your job, not something in addition to it. Read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/gN4jERjT #management #leadership #stress #selfcare ♻️ If you found this useful and think others might as well, please repost for reach! ✉️ Subscribe on my website to get posts like this delivered straight to your inbox.

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Advance Your Career with a Product Manager's Mindset! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I stand by the idea that “Everything is a Product, Even You”. Just as product managers strategize and execute plans for successful product launches, you can apply the same principles to your own career trajectory. From setting a vision for your future to understanding your current state and identifying strategic focus areas, in this article, I detail actionable steps to take your career to new heights through thinking of yourself as a product: https://lnkd.in/ecUy9n3k But doing it alone is hard. So imagine having access to ongoing mentorship, personalized guidance, and a supportive community dedicated to your success. That's exactly what you'll find in the Sidebar Personal Board of Directors, where I serve as a facilitator. Join me and fellow experts on a journey of growth, learning, and achievement. Reach out to me today to learn more and take the first step toward realizing your professional goals. #CareerGrowth #ProductLeadership #PersonalDevelopment

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Why this matters: The rush to integrate AI integration in product development has often been superficial, adding smart features rather than driving core strategies. Too many product teams are currently treating AI as a value-added component—an enhancement rather than a foundation. This mindset limits AI’s potential, keeping products reactive and feature-focused. Get this webinar FREE check comments below https://lnkd.in/e4izFpCB

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🎙 Jeff Lash is SVP of Global Product Management at Forrester, a long time thought leader on all things product, and my latest guest on Product Leader's Journey. He led the product management practice at SiriusDecisions (acquired by Forrester) where he worked with many companies on assessing and benchmarking their product competency and maturity. Jeff started his career in UX with roles at Elsevier and Mastercard, and then pivoted into product management. At the time, people thought he was going over to the "dark side"! 😀 In this episode we talk about: 🔹 How UX and PM work best with each other 🔹 Good PMs create opportunities for other team members 🔹 Evaluating PM function and competency 🔹 Structuring the product org and what PMs are responsible for 🔹 Measuring success in the PM role 🔹 Applying PM principles to pickleball! Find the episode at: YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g_dK3nZJ Apple: https://lnkd.in/g8ndCA69 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gQgD8u8i If you are a Forrester client, you may want to access some relevant resources on evaluating and structuring your product org at: https://lnkd.in/gDJ7f5N7

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